Hazel: Stop the Violence

By Anna Ramdass

Story Created: Jan 15, 2013 at 10:16 PM ECT

Story Updated: Jan 16, 2013 at 3:40 PM ECT 

 

Gender-based violence is on the rise in this country and it must be stopped.

This, according to Hazel Brown, head of the network of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women.

In a release to the press, Brown affirmed the continuing need to deal with gender-based violence as it occurs at all levels of the society, to break the silence and oppose the impunity around it.

She stated that a second form of violence “is inflicted on women by the fact that perpetrators who hold high office or who are public figures, rarely face any form of justice. They know that they can do it without paying the price”.

“We continue to advocate for individual and collective responses by men that move beyond apologies to actually formulating and participating in processes of transformation and change. We must examine the root causes and the impact of gender-based violence including verbal and emotional abuse, and we most develop strategies to address it including appropriate sanctions, legal and otherwise,” stated Brown.

She added that it is not just the individual perpetrator, who must be held accountable, but also the community and the state, which cannot stand idly by and watch women being denied support and justice in their time of need.

Brown stated that there is much that could be done to enable men in public office to lead a reflective conversation on masculinity and violence.

Source:  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Hazel-Stop-the-violence-187051901.html

Woman Knew Her Killer

Woman knew her killer

Wednesday, January 16 2013

RELATIVES of murder victim Lorna Cheryl Adams are convinced the 50-year-old woman knew her killer. Adams’ body was discovered at about 8.30 pm on Sunday by one of her children on the floor of her Sundarsingh, Aranjuez home. She was stabbed several times.

Speaking at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday, Adams’ youngest child Keisha, explained that the family believes her mother’s killer was known to her (the victim) as very little had been taken from the house and there were no signs of forced entry.

“We think the person had to have known my mother. My mother was a person who always used to lock up her home tight, especially at night or when she was alone. From what we have gathered from the police and what we saw ourselves, there was no sign of forced entry,” Keisha said.

“Which means the person who killed her walked in the home and knowing my mother, that meant the person was allowed in. I wasn’t there, so all these things I don’t know for certain, but it seems most likely,” she added.

Keisha described her mother as a kind and compassionate woman, who used to enjoy dressing up and going out.

“She was the best mom. She was always there for us and always had advice for us. Keep in mind she always used to pick up on us if we ever got out of hand and sometimes we would have disagreements arising out of that, but that was nothing unusual. That was her being a good mother and looking out for her children,” Keisha said.

Investigations are continuing.

Source:  http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,172053.html

Come See Us Feburary 9th

Supported by Women of Vision of Tacoma the Dragonfly Centre will be at the upcoming Asian Pacific New Year for the second year. If you are in the Tacoma, Washington area we would love to see you.

Top Cop Wishes End to Violence in the New Year

Published:  Friday, December 21, 2012

ANNA-LISA PAUL

“I want that people can just share love with each other and my vision is for citizens to walk every part of T&T free from any form of interference and crime.” This is the wish of acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams for the citizens of this country as 2013 approaches.

Williams made the disclosure when asked by reporters on Wednesday what he wanted to see in the coming year as he spoke of a reduction in violent crime in the past four months. Speaking at a promotion exercise at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, Williams said while the police service was forging ahead with its plan to make T&T safer, it was his personal wish to get to the point “where crime is not a dominant issue on the lips of every citizen.”

He said: “T&T has been struck with too much violence over the years. We need to see the disappearance of violence from our society,” the acting top officer said. “All that we can do as an organisation, we will do it, but we are beseeching citizens to think twice before they act in a violent manner.”

Williams said the police service stood ready to assist in the area of anger management and that all resources would be directed towards helping citizens.


Boasting of a major reduction in serious crimes, especially violent crimes for the period September to November, Williams said: “We were averaging 35.5 murders per month for the first eight months of the year but for September, October and November, we averaged 25 murders per month. We are hoping to keep it at 25 or even less for the month of December.”

Attributing this reduction to the improved partnerships at the community level, a smiling Williams said: “The police service has received extensive co-operation from the general public in the last four months and that has helped us to improve our delivery of policing services across the country. We shall surely win the battle against crime and criminality as we continue to work in partnership.”

Urging business owners to call on the police for assistance whenever necessary, especially during the Christmas season, Williams vowed: “We are doing everything possible so while the public is out enjoying, we will be policing to make T&T a safer place for all. We aim to continue the good work seen over the last four months as we continue to reach out to the people of T&T for their continued co-operation and support.”

Asked what the police service counted as its major challenge in 2012, Williams said it was constantly being challenged in the area of crime statistics, as the official homicide count for 2012 up to Tuesday stood at 405. “While we recognise that sometimes in educating the nation on issues around crime might be important, as there were 405 homicides in T&T up to yesterday (Tuesday), there is a major distinction between homicides and murders.”

Williams said homicides included murders, police killings, matters where the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled that a defendant should be charged with murder, and unnatural deaths. “There is conflict and confusion with numbers, but it is really about a misunderstanding as it relates to terminology.


You hear the executive speaking about murders and this conflicts with homicides, because some people use the terms interchangeably. But they are clearly two distinct terms,” he explained.

He said the official murder toll up to Tuesday stood at 365. Asked about  initiatives in place to fight crime in Laventille and surrounding communities, Williams said: “We continue to work with Laventille and surrounding communities in a focused and special way. The emphasis is on this because close to 26 percent of murders for 2012 have occurred in Laventille and the surrounding communities.”

“It is a small geographical space in T&T responsible for an extremely large percentage of violent crimes, and from a policing perspective, it is critical for us to focus on this small geographical space to make a difference on the national average. We will be moving forward by engaging people to improve life for those residents, and we believe we can see a resultant drop if we continue to do what we have already started.”

Source:  http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-21/top-cop-wishes-end-violence-new-year

Magistrates Shun Cases of Domestic Violence

 

Rape Crisis director: 

Magistrates shun cases of domestic violence

Published:  Friday, December 14, 2012

Camille Clarke

 

Marian Taylor, director of the Rape Crisis Society, says magistrates do not show an interest in cases of domestic violence and this needs to change with workshops and education programmes. Taylor was speaking during the commemoration of the conclusion of the 16 days of activism on the elimination of gender-based violence at City Hall, Port-of-Spain.

The forum was a collaboration between the Rape Crisis Society (RCS) and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV). Taylor said the court was the only medium to treat with domestic violence in a professional manner. She added: “I am of the view that magistrates are not interested in those reports. It is a system where your matter can be transferred to another court or traffic court and only a magistrate who has a keen interest should be in those courts.”

Taylor said everyone should take an interest in people who were victims of domestic violence, even neighbours. She added: “Children become dysfunctional at an early age and end up being part of our criminal society. Domestic violence is everybody’s business.

You can’t count on the Government or judiciary alone. You need to take responsibility and report it. If we were in that situation you would like someone to assist you.” Taylor said there were and are workshops which included magistrates to sensitise them to the issues.

Dr Varma Deyalsingh, board member of Aspire (Advocates for Safe Parenthood) and general secretary of the Association of Psychiatrists, said victims should leave abusive relationships. He noted there was a rise in violence worldwide which had many contributing factors.

“We are not just seeing problems with impulse control. It is easy to act out emotional stress which is a part of impulsive aggression and violent behaviour,” he added. Deyalsingh said the recent violent act against a child in which her cheeks were allegedly bitten by a relative could have been due to his childhood, jealousy towards the child, pathological problems, use of illicit drugs, lack of food and sex.

He said violent behaviour also could also be caused by a chemical imbalance or a stroke. “A perpetrator could have lost it in a fit of rage and act out on the child or to get back at the mother. We are all human and we can lose it. We need to analyse it,” he said.

Deyalsingh said more shelters for the abused were needed and warned that one consequence of abuse was depression. He added: “A child could also be depressed and the social system should have shelters and other things in place to deal with this upcoming tsunami of depression.

We are seeing impulse-control rage, road rage and violence and this could be due to a mindset. “Leave, put them in their place or get out of the situation, or it will form into a habit.” Deyalsingh said working women were under pressure and women also suffered from depression.

Patricia Jessop, general manager of CADV, said magistrates and police needed to be trained on the issue of domestic violence. She said: “Members of the protective services need to emphasise to people who are abused and all the services need to be aware.

“Men need to stand up and help other buddies. Abused people are fragile because of control. It has multi-factorial aspects. Confidence is stripped away and you will have no self-will.” Marcus Kissoon, another director of the RCS, said in 2011 there were 278 victims seeking treatment at the centre, 25 per cent of whom were men.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-14/rape-crisis-director-magistrates-shun-cases-domestic-violence

Chops and Poison

Chops and poison

By KARL E. CUPID Tobago Bureau Friday, December 14 2012

AUTOPSIES yesterday confirmed that multiple chops and ingestion of a poisonous liquid caused the deaths of Belinda Solomon-Sobers and her lover Daniel Benjamin, respectively.

The autopsies were done at the mortuary of the Scarborough Hospital by pathologist Dr Eastlyn McDonald Burris. Solomon-Sobers, 36, a mother of three was hacked to death at her Coral Gardens, Buccoo home on Tuesday.

Her killer, Benjamin, later died near Solomon-Sobers’ house after ingesting a poisonous liquid substance. Benjamin, 56, of Old Grange, was a wood-worker who operated a wood-working shop at his home located not too far from Solomon-Sobers’ home.

Meanwhile, Solomon-Sobers’ 13-year-old daughter, who was also chopped by Benjamin in the murderous attack was yesterday discharged from the Scarborough Hospital, where she was warded following the incident.

“She is all right; she is just normal…for now,” stated a relative yesterday. According to police reports, Solomon-Sobers who was separated from her husband, and Benjamin, who lived with his wife and family, were involved in a romantic relationship.

Benjamin was a joiner who operated a wood-work furniture shop, while Solomon-Sobers was employed as a maid at a commercial bank in Scarborough. During the course of the relationship, Benjamin reportedly funded and carried out repairs to Solomon-Sobers’ home as well as provided her with household furnishings and other personal items.

Residents in the area said things turned sour when Benjamin realised that Solomon-Sobers was reconciling with her husband.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,170633.html

Tobago - Murder / Suicide

MURER/ SUICIDE ROCK TOBAGO

By KARL E CUPID Tobago Bureau Wednesday, December 12 2012

IT WAS A case of murder after the love had died.

A Tobago man, enraged that his lover had brought in another man to live at her home which he (the first man) spent money to refurbish, yesterday chopped the mother of three to death before taking his own life by ingesting a poisonous substance.

The murder/suicide rocked Tobago and was the main topic of discussion yesterday. Police said Belinda Solomon-Sobers, 36, had no chance whatsoever of surviving the vicious chops she received at the hands of her lover Daniel Benjamin, 56. Her 13-year-old daughter who was also chopped, is now warded at the Scarborough Hospital.

The house of death at Orchid Lane in Coral Gardens, Buccoo remained locked tight yesterday even as neighbours and passersby stopped to speak among themselves on what had transpired in the usually quiet, laid back area.

Police said the circumstances surrounding the murder/suicide were bizarre as Benjamin was married and living with his wife and family while Solomon-Sobers was also married and also had a family, yet the two were romantically involved.

Police said Benjamin was a joiner who operated a woodwork and furniture shop at his Old Grange home while Solomon-Sobers, lived about 800 metres away from him. The female victim was employed as a maid at a commercial bank in Scarborough.

Police further reported when Solomon-Sobers fell out with her husband, he left their marital home and Benjamin intensified his relationship with her. Benjamin furnished his lover’s home including all of the wooden furniture which he built himself at his woodwork shop. He also spent money to purchase household items. It was to be his home away from home just as Solomon-Sobers was his lover on the side even though he was married.

For a while things went well with Benjamin and Solomon-Sobers as they continued their relationship. But, police said, the love between Benjamin and Solomon-Sobers soured and then died when the latter told the former that she wanted to reconcile with her husband.

For several days before the murder/suicide, residents told Newsday, Benjamin confronted Solomon-Sobers in heated, physical arguments at her house. So much so, the residents claimed several reports were made to the Old Grange Police Station but officers never responded.

“She take back she husband,” stated a woman who said she was a close friend of Solomon-Sobers but who did not want to be identified.

Police reported things took a turn for the worst when Solomon-Sobers and her husband were seen by Benjamin in her house, the same place which he (Benjamin) spent time and money to “fix-up” for her.

At eight o’clock yesterday morning, police reported, Benjamin went to the house armed with a sharpened cutlass. At the time, Solomon-Sobers was changing her clothes and getting ready for work.

Benjamin forced his way into the house and started to attack Solomon-Sobers chopping her several times. She died on the scene. Benjamin then attacked and chopped the teenaged girl, severing one of her fingers in the process.

He then drank a poisonous substance and left the house. He only got as far as 200 metres from the house of death, collapsing and dying in a garden patch near the Buccoo/Shirvan Road junction. The police were then called in and the areas around the house and Benjamin’s body were cordoned off as police began their investigations. The wounded teen was rushed to hospital where she received emergency treatment.

When Newsday visited the home of Solomon-Sobers’ mother Barbara Solomon-Roberts in Canaan, relatives reported that Barbara, a mother of six, was resting and could not be interviewed. Jane Duncan, a first-cousin of the victim, told Newsday she was very upset over what had happened.

“It’s not supposed to be like that! Everybody have their life to live. You live yours and I live mine. That is not a fowl...you just can’t get up and chop up a person like that! It’s time for people to stop this stupidness,” Duncan cried.

“I am very upset and he is lucky that he chose to end his own life too because he would have gotten what was going to come to him,” the emotional woman said. Solomon-Sobers’ sister Dannielle Solomon, posted a mournful note last night on her Facebook page: “Not even a last goodbye...can’t hear her voice, can’t see her smile; in the blink of an eye...she was gone! Why?”

Investigations are continuing.

Source: http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,170493.html

Violence Still Pressing Issue

 

Rambachan: Violence still pressing issue

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Melissa Doughty

 

Acting Health Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan said yesterday approximately 2,300 of the world’s children die daily from injury-related complications. He was speaking at the launch of the national stakeholder workshop to develop a strategic planning for injuries, violence prevention and control. The event was held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre.

Guests included representatives of Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) members of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Brent Batson, of the National Road Safety Council. He said according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) approximately 1.5 million people die yearly as a consequence of violence.

“Even within the 21st-century, with the development of new technologies and a greater expanse of education to the masses, injury and violence is still a pressing global issue,” he added. Citing injury-related deaths as one of the most challenging global health issues of this century, Rambachan said five million people die from injury-related incidents yearly. He said over the last 15 years, legislation was passed to help prevent violence and injury-related deaths.

The legislation included:
• Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act 2007
• Domestic Violence Act 1999
•Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Harassment) Act 2005
• Occupational Safety and Health Act 2004.

Rambachan also called for greater public awareness of the issue. The workshop also looked at a situation analysis of injury and violence in T&T, unintentional-injury prevention and the global decade of action for road safety 2011-2020 and other issues.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-05/rambachan-violence-still-pressing-issue

Gardener Jailed for 5 Years for Chopping Wife

Gardener jailed for 5 years for chopping wife

By AZARD ALI Tuesday, November 27 2012

A HIGH Court judge yesterday echoed the concerns made on Friday by Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers Caesar, saying that judicial officers must also note the circumstances which trigger off domestic violence. In stating this, Justice Malcolm Holdip sentenced Basil De Leon, 60, to five years in jail for chopping his wife with a cutlass.

The judge however, presiding in the San Fernando High Court, discounted the 29 months the Tabaquite cassava gardener spent in jail awaiting trial. De Leon will therefore serve 31 months in prison. The judge justified the court sentence on De Leon, for wounding Meena Rampersad, 53, with intent, by the husband’s contention that the common-law wife had taken $68,000 worth of items from the matrimonial home, and had gone to live with another wiyh man.

De Leon on Friday last, was found not guilty, in the San Fernando High Court by a jury, of attempted murder for chopping off one of her fingers with a cutlass. The jury found him guilty on the lesser count of wounding the woman.

Holdip told De Leon that no doubt, De Leon was incensed by Rampersad taking possessions valued $68,000 from the matrimonial house, and going to live at Pierre Phillip Trace, New Grant. The wife left him in 2006, and on November 11, 2007, De Leon confronted her at her new home, whilst armed with a cutlass.

Holdip said, “I must echo the sentiments of the Honourable Chief Magistrate in which she asked all judicial officers (magistrates), to be aware of the fact that where claims of domestic violence are made, cognisance must be taken of these claims because we may never know what triggers a domestic situation to escalate into a domestic violence.”

Rampersad had testified before a jury, that when she left the matrimonial home, De Leon confronted her with a cutlass in front her new home at Pierre Phillip Trace, and chopped her twice. She lost the middle finger on the left hand, and was cut across the wrist.

Yesterday, Senior State Attorney Angelica Teelucksingh, told Holdip the courts needed to send a message to society, that even if the genesis for becoming incensed was a domestic violence situation, violence must not be the last resort. She said: “The public’s confidence in the criminal justice system, must be strengthened by its sentencing.”

Holdip reminded De Leon that in 1985, he was sentenced to seven years for manslaughter. The judge then went on to tell De Leon that no doubt he was emotionally inflamed by Rampersad taking off with the house valuables, but warned that it was no excuse to resort to violence. In passing sentence, Holdip said that upon De Leon’s arrest, he was refused bail and spent some 29 prison months in jail awaiting trial. He was granted bail by a Judge in Chambers on March 17, 2010. The judge sentenced him to five years hard labour, but informed De Leon that 29 months would be deducted from the term. The commencement of the 31 months in jail began yesterday.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,169782.html

Speaker Wants Law Enforced to Stop Violence Against Women

Speaker wants law enforced to stop violence against women

By ANDRE BAGOO Tuesday, November 27 2012

SPEAKER Wade Mark yesterday called for the enforcement of legislation to curb instances of violence against women.

“It is our responsibility as parliamentarians to ensure that relevant legislation is in place to effectively curb the instances of violence against women and girls, as well as monitor the enforcement of existing laws,” Mark said in welcoming remarks at a regional parliamentary workshop held at the Hyatt Regency.

The Speaker’s remarks came one day after the observance of The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and amid a 16-day programme of activism on the topic which began on Sunday.

“We all need to constantly try to redress the status of women and girls around the world, who are unable to achieve their full potential as a result of violence that is so callously inflicted upon them,” Mark said. “Every day another mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, or niece, is subjected to violence in some form or fashion.”

Last week Friday, Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar said 12,106 domestic violence cases were filed in 2009/2010 and 12,106 cases were filed in 2010/2011. Sunday Newsday reported that incidents of inmate attacks on female prisons officers have also been on the rise in recent months. Yesterday’s parliamentary workshop, supported in part by the Government, was put on in collaboration with the Switzerland-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation which aims to make parliaments more responsive to populations.

According to the IPU’s first ever Global Parliamentary Report, TT is slightly above the world average in terms of the number of women in Parliament.

There are 19 women among the 71 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a rate of about 27 percent. While this is far from the ideal of 50 percent, the rate is higher than the global average which is 19.25 percent. The Rwandan Chamber of Deputies has the highest percentage of women (56.25 percent) in the world. It is followed by the General Council of Andorra (53.57 percent).

Of 130 parliaments sampled, only 17 percent have chambers comprising over 30 percent women, a sign that there is still a long way to go.

According to the IPU, there are 8,716 woman parliamentarians in the world. The percentage of women in elected parliament chambers (as opposed to appointed chambers) was higher: 20 percent as opposed to 18 percent.

Mark did not speak on the issue of the number of women in Parliament, but noted the workshop — which will be conducted over two days — will examine questions of “representation” in Parliament. “There are five sessions, each detailing with different aspects of improving political representation and constituency work,” he said.

“The Global Parliamentary Report focuses on the evolving relationship between citizens and Parliaments, and aims to analyse how citizens’ expectations are changing, and how parliaments, politicians and parliamentary staff are responding to these changes,” Mark said.

“Legislatures need to be aware of the concerns, needs and general feelings of the citizenry, many of whom have become increasingly concerned with issues, rather than institutions.

IPU Secretary General Anders Johnson noted many parliaments in the world “trace their roots back to the Middle Ages”.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169788.html

70% of Women Suffer Gender-Based Violence

70% of women suffer gender-based violence

Tuesday, November 27 2012

Over 70 percent of women worldwide experience gender-based violence. This statistic was given yesterday by Dr Deborah Thomas-Austin, president of the World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).

The YWCA of Trinidad and Tobago, in conjunction with the United Nations, launched its “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence” at Capital Plaza, Port-of-Spain.

Through its “In Her Shoes” exhibition, the YWCA shows the lives of women who experience domestic violence.

The association intends to take its display to locations around the country to facilitate a forum of discussion about gender-based violence. As well they will have a Solidarity Walk against gender-based violence around the Savannah on December 1, World Aids Day.

In attendance yesterday was Zalayhar Hassanali, wife of late President Noor Hassanali, who stated that she has been supporting this cause for over 60 years. Hassanali was proud to see the YWCA take the “16 Days of Activism” to the public. She stated that gender-based violence is a “real scourge on society” and the cause must not cease.

Marcus Kissoon, a representative from the Rape Crisis Centre, recalled the earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. He stated that if TT were to face a natural disaster which would force people into camps, he fears that our women would be abused as women were in Haiti.

“We would have a crisis within a crisis with regards to gender-based violence.

This is why we need a national gender policy. That way people affected by crime, from the home to the workplace, would have a sense of justice.

From a psychological point of view, an NGP would give a sense of therapy having this legal net,” Kissoon said. He added that the main way to ensure the rights of women would be to have a comprehensive national gender policy which is sensitive to the rights of all citizens based on gender.

Also in attendance were students of Bishop’s Centenary High School who viewed the exhibition “In Her Shoes.”

Theanna Alleyne, a 15-year-old Form 5 student, told Newsday, “Personally it is a very uplifting and educational programme. The day in their shoes is very uplifting and touching. It made me realise that education is the most important thing right now.”

The 16 Days of Activism began on Sunday, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169787.html

Husband Guilty of Wounding Wife

Husband guilty of wounding wife

By AZARD ALI Saturday, November 24 2012

BASIL DE LEON, a cassava farmer of New Grant, Princes Town was found guilty yesterday of chopping off a finger of his common-law wife, five years ago.

He will be sentenced on Monday by Justice Malcolm Holdip in the San Fernando High Court.

The wife, Meena Rampersad, 53, testified before a jury that she left the matrimonial home and De Leon confronted her with a cutlass in front her new home at Pierre Phillip Trace, New Grant, and chopped her twice. She lost the middle finger on the left hand, and was cut across the wrist.

De Leon, 60, of Tabaquite, was charged with attempted murder and the lesser count of wounding with intent.

Yesterday, a jury of nine members, found De Leon not guilty on the first count, but guilty on the lesser count by a majority verdict of eight for and one against.

Senior State Attorney Angelica Teelucksingh led evidence from Rampersad who testified that she and De Leon lived together for ten years and nine months in Tabaquite. They had two children, but De Leon had six other children from a previous marriage.

Rampersad said she left the matrimonial home and went to live on her own at Pierre Phillip Trace, but on November 19, 2007, husband De Leon turned up at her gates armed with a cutlass. She told the jury that De Leon attacked her with a cutlass, during which she was cut twice. She added that, De Leon told her, “Meena, come kneel down here let me kill you.”

Attorney Rekha Ramjit who represented De Leon, led evidence from the accused husband, who admitted that he went to Rampersad’s home. However, he told the jury of four women and five men, that he told wife Rampersad: “Meena, you take everything from the house; you could’ve take half.”

De Leon testified that it was Rampersad who attacked him with a knife and he swung the cutlass. He said, he drew his cutlass, which was tendered into evidence and swung it twice. The blade, the husband added, was sharpened on both sides which accounted for her being cut.

Yesterday, the jury retired for the mandatory three hours, and when Holdip asked the foreman if she and the rest of the panel arrived at a verdict in respect of the attempted murder, the woman answered: “No.”

The foreman was then asked whether their members were divided and she said it was a unanimous decision of nine in favour of not guilty.

The judge’s Judicial Officer then asked the foreman about their decision on the second count of wounding. She said that they were undecided. Asked the ratio of the division without revealing whether guilty or not guilty, the foreman said: “Eight to One.”

After telling the court that eight of their numbers were in favour of a guilty verdict and one against, Holdip told the foreman that according to law, the verdict was a majority one and therefore the accused was guilty on the second count.

Ramjit will make a plea in mitigation on Monday after which the judge will pass sentence. The accused man was remanded into custody to await the sentence.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,169698.html

12,106 domestic violence cases filed

 

 

12,106 domestic violence cases filed

By LEISELLE MARAJ Saturday, November 24 2012

CHIEF Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar yesterday stressed the importance played by judicial officers in cases of domestic violence as she spoke at a media launch of 16 Days of Activism which begins tomorrow and is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Activities during this time frame have been organised by the Rape Crisis Society and the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

At the launch, held at 1 Robinson Ville, Belmont, Ayers Ceasar revealed shocking domestic violence statistics. She said for the 2009/2010 law term in the Trinidad and Tobago Magistrates’ Courts, 12,106 new domestic violence applications were filed and 10,817 applications were determined. For the 2010/2011 period, 11,984 new applications were filed and 12, 041 applications were determined.

“These figures should be of concern to us all. These statistics, which can be found in the Judiciary’s Annual Report for this period, also reveal for 2009/2010 term, the magisterial district of Arima received the highest number of applications whilst Mayaro had the least. After 2010/2011, Arima again had the highest number and Rio Claro had the least. I am sure that you would agree with me that these statistics are indeed shocking,” she said.

Other statistics show women experience an average of 35 incidents of domestic violence before reporting to the police. “Judicial officers play an important role in the legal systems response. Judicial officers can express authority as the ultimate dispensers of Justice as we are the ultimate legal authority. If as judicial officers we treat domestic violence seriously, so too will the parties and the rest of the criminal justice system,”Ayers-Caesar said.

She said officers would have to deal with victims of domestic violence who come to the courts for help who do not have sufficient resources such as attorneys, an adequate source of income, access to counselling, functional extended families or even a safe place to live which can be a source of frustration for the judicial officer.

The officer may feel he or she is being asked to solve problems beyond the court’s ability to act and will also experience a sense of powerlessness sometimes which persons who encounter the abused may feel. No other societal institution, she said however, has the enforcement power attributed to the court.

“While counsellors, advocates, social workers and others can advise the abuser to stop his behaviour, only the court can order him to attend counselling, prohibit his contact with the victim and even incarcerate him where necessary,” she explained.

The community on a whole suffers from domestic violence, she said since persons who may try to help during an episode of domestic violence may end up being injured or even be killed. “The cost to the community of lost lives and resources is a constant reminder that domestic violence is not a family affair or a private affair. It is a community affair demanding a community response. Early intervention by the legal system can save lives. As judicial officers, we have an opportunity to stop domestic violence before it becomes extremely dangerous or homicidal through early intervention,” she said.

Ayers-Caesar said the justice system plays an essential part of the solution to domestic violence and should be part of a co-ordinated community effort to end the consequences of violence within the family.

The criminal justice system however needs to improve its response to domestic violence. She said there is need to improve communication and information sharing between the other key stakeholders within the system for a more collaborative approach.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,169677.html

Relatives Speak Out

Relatives: Killed man was victim of abuse

By Jensen LaVende and Carolyn Kissoon

Story Created: Nov 12, 2012 at 9:57 PM ECT

Story Updated: Nov 13, 2012 at 9:10 AM ECT 

 

Stabbed to death: Anthony Lee Sing

ANTHONY LEE SING was the victim of domestic abuse and died as a result of that.

Speaking with members of the media yesterday, relatives of the dead man, who wished not to be identified, said it was not he who was the aggressor as reported but the mother of his child, who is in police custody.

The relatives, who spoke at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday, said the female relative who stabbed Lee Sing, 27, three times about the body, was the jealous type and was very abusive to him.

The women described Lee Sing as a "smart man" and said he had the ability to make anyone like him, even those whom he had outsmarted. The women questioned why the female relative had to stab their loved one so many times.

Lee Sing, 27, was stabbed in the chest, abdomen and hand on Sunday afternoon. Lee Sing died at his Sushilla Drive, Chase Village, Chaguanas home following what was described as a fight between the two, which occurred around 7.30 a.m. The woman told investigators that she stabbed Lee Sing several times to defend herself.

Police are awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether any charges will be laid against a mother of three.

The female suspect was treated at the San Fernando General Hospital for stab wounds and released into police custody on Sunday evening. A Colombian national was also detained by police.

The 27-year-old woman was nearby. The Colombian man was also in the house.

Two of Lee Sing's three children were at home when the incident occurred.

Police said Lee Sing and the woman were seen liming in Chaguanas the night before. They returned to Lee Sing's rented apartment around 4 a.m.

The woman told police that they began arguing and Lee Sing became violent towards her. He began cutting her about the body with a knife, police said.

Investigators said the woman grabbed the knife and stabbed Lee Sing in the chest, abdomen and hand.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by a district medical officer.

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Relatives__Killed_man_was_victim_of_abuse-179034911.html